A fundraiser sponsored by the "Hawai'i Professionals Foundation" last week netted about $11,000 for the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association's "SOS" (Save Our Sports) campaign to help public schools offset recent state budget cuts.

The Jan. 28 event, held at Bonsai Restaurant and Lounge, sold out its allotment of 350 tickets at $20 each and also raised funds through a silent auction and raffle drawings (at $5 per ticket). Proceeds went toward the SOS Fund, which has raised more than $1.4 million since July 23, 2009, to help public school athletic departments cope with budget cuts that left them operating with less than 64 percent of their state allocations compared to 2008-2009.

"We're pretty happy," said Reid Matsushima, one of the event's organizers. "A lot of people had a great time, supporting a very good cause."

To contribute to the SOS Fund, make a check payable to "HHSAA SOS Account" and send it to HHSAA, P.O. Box 62029, Honolulu, HI 96839, or visit www.sportshigh.com.

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